Tennessee State's home win streak halted

Final Score: Tennessee State 88, Eastern Kentucky 92
Records: TSU (12-7, 4-2 OVC), EKU (6-13, 3-3 OVC)
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Gentry Center
Attendance: 3,982

NASHVILLE — A missed shot in the final five seconds of the night and a pair of free-throw shots ended the Tigers’ 7-0 home-game winning-streak as the Tennessee State men’s basketball team fell to Eastern Kentucky, 92-88 Saturday in the Gentry Center.

Big Blue battled its way back from an 11-point deficit late in the first half to take its first lead in over 23 minutes of play. Its short, one-point leads were often overtaken just seconds later. Tied with 1:19 on the clock, the Colonels drew two fouls for trips to the free-throw line, to regain the lead and take the first opponent victory in Gentry Center this season.

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Three Tigers scored in double-digits in the second half alone as the team went 10-for-12 from the charity stripe, 5-for-11 from beyond the arc and 14-for-29 from the floor.

Carlos Marshall’s scoring consistency over the last four games has helped the Tigers’ offensively as the redshirt junior led the team with 22 points, 12 in the second half. Michael Littlejohn lit it up from three-point distance, making four of the seven TSU threes.

The Colonels’ accuracy from the free-throw three-point line forced TSU to maintain its defensive prowess and up its offensive efficiency. EKU’s Jomaru Brown led the game in scoring with 37 points.

TSU is now 4-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play, 12-7 overall.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

TSU Leaders
- Points: Carlos Marshall Jr. – 22
- Rebounds: Shakem Johnson – 9
- Assists: Mark Freeman – 7
- Steals: Littlejohn, Marshall, Johnson – 1
- Blocks: Emmanuel Egbuta — 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

Big Blue scored on first possession thanks to the Johnson’s won jump ball and a jumper by Carlos Marshall Jr.
Eastern Kentucky took 1:30 to put points on the board. Michael Moreno
After first possession, the Tigers experienced a 2:29 scoring drought, that was finally broken up by a Jy’lan Washington layup.
Marshall who has led the game in assists, tossed the lob to Emmanuel Egbuta for the first TSU dunk.
The Colonels were banking in shots from beyond the arc, going 5-for-10 from three for the first 15 minutes of the half.
Johnson finger-rolled one in for two with 27 seconds on the clock to wrap the first period, TSU down by four, 49-45.
Michael Littlejohn stopped for a pull-up three to bring the Tigers within two, 54-56.
Marshall took a trip to the line, making both to give TSU its first lead since the first five minutes of the first half.
An 11-point Colonel run put EKU up 10 over the Tigers forcing TSU to call a timeout and regroup.
Washington regrouped and made two consecutive plays in the paint, 72-66.
Stop and stare. It makes threes. This time by Carlos Marshall Jr. Times two.
Repeat that last line. Michael Littlejohn.
The Tigers tied it at 88 with 1:19 left on the clock.
EKU’s leading scorer Jomaru Brown drew a foul to head to the free-throw line for the eighth time of the night, making both shots.
A missed jumper to tie it, followed by another TSU foul sent Brown to the line for the final two points, allowing EKU to end the Tigers’ home-winning streak, 92-88.

GAME NOTES